Mandarin Orange: Varieties & Benefits

Miniature mandarin orange may not look like an impressive fruit, but it packs a powerful nutritional punch.

What is Mandarin Orange?

Tiny mandarin orange is a sweet type of orange that grows no larger than 8 centimeters in size. It contains more sugar than most other citrus varieties, making it particularly popular for desserts and as a children’s snack. Mandarins are a traditional gift for the Chinese New Year and Christmas and can be found in a variety of recipes, from salads to fruitcakes. Mandarin orange is also used in both Chinese traditional and Ayurvedic medicine.

Varieties

There are many varieties of mandarin orange, including pure mandarins, non-pure mandarins, mandarin cross, Mangshanyegan, clementines, tangerines, and Satsuma among others. Let us take a look at them in detail below.

Pure Mandarins: Pure mandarins are heirloom varieties like Tachibana and Nanfengmiju that have stayed close to the original Asian mandarin strains.

Non-pure Mandarins: These are varieties that are slightly mixed with other citrus fruit, most commonly pomelo, but retain mostly mandarin distinctions. Satsumas, tangerines, and murcotts are all non-pure mandarins.

Mandarin Cross: Mandarin crosses are hybridized varieties where the Mandarin has been equally mixed with another citrus to produce commonly known fruits, such as Meyer lemons and grapefruit. Clementines are a mandarin cross with sweet oranges, for example.

Mangshanyegan: This is a type of citrus fruit, native to China, that is classified as a non-mandarin. Despite the similarities, mangshanyegans are actually a completely separate species of citrus.

Clementine: These are bred from Mediterranean mandarin strains. They are the smallest mandarin variety, very sweet, and seedless. Most clementines are imported from Europe.

Tangerine: Tangerines and mandarins are often used interchangeably as names, but while all tangerines are mandarins, not all mandarins are tangerines. Tangerines have a tougher skin and taste more akin to a regular orange, with less sweetness and more of a citric bite.

Satsuma: Satsuma is a type of fruit, originating in Japan, which is a mandarin-pomelo hybrid. Satsumas may be a bit larger than a pure mandarin but retain same loose skin. They are grown in Asia and the Southern United States.

Mandarin Orange Nutrition

One medium mandarin orange contains 47 calories, with 9 grams of sugar and 12 grams of carbs. It also has nearly 40% of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C and 11% of the daily recommended vitamin A.

Benefits of Mandarin Oranges

Mandarin oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C, which helps promote collagen production in the body. They also contain synephrine, which is a bronchial dilator and is a rich source of fiber. The presence of flavonoids and other antioxidants also contribute to its amazing benefits. Let us look at the benefits of mandarin orange below.

John Staughton is a traveling writer, editor, and publisher who earned his English and Integrative Biology degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign, Urbana (USA). He is the co-founder of a literary journal, Sheriff Nottingham, and calls the most beautiful places in the world his office. On a perpetual journey towards the idea of home, he uses words to educate, inspire, uplift and evolve.

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